"Absolutely," Payton said emphatically. "This gets back to the notion that we had some type of any (sideline) argument at Minnesota (in Week 1 of the 2017 regular season), which I still say there was none. I think a ton of him."

While Peterson arrived on the heels of a decorated career with the Vikings, it became clear during training camp that the Saints had something special in Kamara, who went on to win the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year award.

But circumstances in New Orleans could change ahead of training camp, and Peterson apparently won't be far from Payton's radar should that scenario develop.

"That would the part where if all of a sudden we decided, hey, we're going to look at additional players that are on the street," Payton said. "And certainly his name -- there'd be a few others -- we have them on the board right now. Who's available, veteran running backs, stacked on a board and graded. But, listen, he's a tough player, warrior, and a great worker, and we have a good relationship."